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Breast Cancer Death Rates Continue to Drop

Cases dipped most dramatically for women over 50

By Colleen Barry,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 26, 2007 7:36 AM CDT

(Newser) – Breast cancer mortality rates have continued to drop 2% a year, according to the latest statistics from the American Cancer Society.  Diagnoses also fell 3.7% annually, both because fewer women were on hormone therapy which could have triggered more cases and because 2% fewer women were getting mammograms, preventing diagnosis, according to figures through 2004, the most recent available.

Diagnoses fell most dramatically—4.8% annually—for those over 50, but remained steady for younger women and black women. "A woman today has a lower chance of dying from breast cancer than in decades," said an organization official, who cautioned that death rates for black women were still 36% higher than for whites in 2004.

Fewer cases of breast cancer were diagnosed in recent years, but that's in part because there's been a 2% drop in mammogram rates.
Fewer cases of breast cancer were diagnosed in recent years, but that's in part because there's been a 2% drop in mammogram rates.   (Associated Press)
This image made available by the Duke University Department of Medicine shows a right breast mammogram from a 55 year old woman with extreme breast density.
This image made available by the Duke University Department of Medicine shows a right breast mammogram from a 55 year old woman with extreme breast density.   (Associated Press)
Graphic shows the percentage of breast cancer cases resistant to hormone treatments, by race.
Graphic shows the percentage of breast cancer cases resistant to hormone treatments, by race.   (Associated Press)
Breast cancer survivors cheer during the Parade of Pink before the start of the 2007 Susan G. Komen National Race for the Cure Saturday, June 2, 2007, in Washington.   (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)
Breast cancer survivors cheer during the Parade of Pink before the start of the 2007 Susan G. Komen National Race for the Cure Saturday, June 2, 2007, in Washington. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)   (Associated Press)
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